Effect of Free Water on Polarization and Piezoelectric Coefficients of Cement-Based Piezoelectric Composites during Manufacturing Process

Abstract:

Cement-based piezoelectric composites (PECs) consist of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT), each accounting for 50 vol.% that can be used for structural health monitoring (SHM) due to their excellent compatibility with cementitious structures. The presence of free water inside the specimen significantly affects the polarization difficulty and piezoelectricity of PEC. Four treatment methods include vacuum drying, ethanol dehydration, non-heat treatment (untreated), and heat treatment to reduce free water in specimens. Experimental results show that reducing the free water content of PEC specimens through vacuum drying, ethanol dehydration, and heat treatment during the manufacturing process can enhance PEC performance. The free water reduction effect of PEC specimens was most with the heat treatment, followed by ethanol dehydration, and least by vacuum drying. The specimen’s dielectric loss and relative permittivity before polarization decreased if heat treatment and ethanol dehydration were applied. Heat-treated specimens provide optimal relative permittivity and piezoelectric strain constant after polarization. For the piezoelectric voltage constant, ethanol dehydration of the specimen is better than other treatments. The treatment method affects the resonance frequency value and the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the specimen. Water removal of specimens is not a suitable treatment method to increase the electromechanical coupling coefficient.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1150)
• Pages: 113-124
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-5qsFns
• Online since: June 2025
• Authors: You Shen Cheng, Huang Hsing Pan*, Jian Long Syue, Hsin Chen Chiang
• Keywords: Calcium Aluminate Cement, Cement-Based Composite, Heat Treatment, Piezoelectric Coefficients, Structural Health Monitoring

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